Although ownership of guns in Canada is relatively high and shootings do happen, they pale in comparison to those in the United States. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there were 480 mass shootings in the US in 2025, with over 90 of them taking place in schools.
In Canada, in 2025, there were “only” four mass shootings. One of the reasons for this gap in numbers may be the differences in gun regulations. In Canada, for example, to own a gun, you must complete a course and undergo a criminal background check.
But that's just one of many rules that keep gun crime in Canada much lower than in the US. Click through this gallery to find out more and to understand the difference in regulations between the two countries.